Knitting-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J.BENNOR. KNITTING MACHINE.

NQQ 557,639. PatentedApr. 7,1896.

W itnesses.

Inventor.

Attorney.

BYGRANAM mm'oummwnsmucron. u C

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Inventor.

Attorney.

Patented Apr. '7, 1896.

Mv PHUTOUTHQWAsHIN ETDNJ) C J. BENNOR.

1 KNITTING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

Witnesses.

O ZWJ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J.BENNOVR.

KNITTING MACHINE. No. 557,639. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

74, a -74 57 77 V ,E 5 I J0 Z6 3 f 36 i0 95 37 U J6 l6 9* I 9 5 13C? 4 j5* J51! 6 23 66 Z J: 1 l I I $9 5 29 I 69 Witnesses. IDVQIZLZOI.

Jig @22 2 M JJE Attorney.

Anniiaw FGRAHAMPHOTD'UTHDYWASHINGI'DN. D C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. BENNOR. i KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 557,689. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

36 Witnesses. Inventor.

I i l 2552M Attorney.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BENXOR, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

KNiTTlNG-MACHENE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,639, dated April'7, 1896.

Application filed July 19,1894. Serial No. 517,970. (No model.)

To (LZZ whmw it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BENXOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Knittingfiiachines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to straight-knitting machines of the kinddesigned for use more especiallyin the production of hosiery-such, forexample, as the machines set out in Letters Patent of the United StatesNo. etetOfiSD, dated November 11, 1890, and Nos. 185,316 and 55,317,dated November 1, 1802wherein the knitting is commenced at the toeportion of the stocking and continued throughout the foot, the heel, andthe leg portions thereof.

The present improvements, briefly stated, comprehend a construction ofthe cam-carriage, the knittingcams, and the means for controllingthesame; also, novel means whereby certain needles are rendered active andinactive at predetermined intervals, and, further, a simple andeiiicient construction of duplex yarn-guide mechanism, all of which willbe hereinafter set forth in detail and be definitely claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machineembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 a partial plan thereof. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section, enlarged. Fig. 4: is an under side view ofone of the cam-carriages, detached. Fig. 5 is an end view thereof, andFig. 6 is a plan of a portion of one of the needle-beds with its jacks.

The numeral 1 designates a substantial framework of appropriate form tosupport the various parts of the machine. Upon this frame are fixed theoppositely-inclined needle-beds 2 3, the needles in which arereciprocated to effect tubular knitting by means of the knitting cams atraveling thereon. These cams are supported on carriages 5, that areconnected by a yoke 6, which is in turn connected with and reciprocatedbya crankwhecl 7 on a vertical power-driven shaft 8.

The cam-carriages are each of thefollowing construction: 9 denotes aframe comprising two parts 0 and 0 which are adj ustably connected bymeans of a screw and eccentric de vice similarly to the like parts in mypreviously-patented constructions. The parts 9 of the two carriages areprovided with uprising posts or arms through which extend the usualguide-rods 10, these parts being connected by the yoke. Pivoted to andbetween the sides of the part 9 of each frame at the lower end in amanner that it may be raised and lowered therein is a section 11, theupper or free end of which comprises two lateral arms 12, between whichis mounted the cambearing slide-plate 13. This plate is provided on itsedges with tongues let, that are fitted to guideways in the inner edgesof the arms 12, whereby said plate may be reciprocated, as hereinafterdescribed.

Secured to the under side of the frame 9 are springs 15, preferablyflat, that, bearing against the hinged section, tend to throw the samenormally upward and thus maintain the knitting-cams on the slide-plateabove the track of the needle-heels.

Extending through the frame 9 above the pivoted section is alongitudinal slide-bar 16, which is provided with a stud 17, that bearsagainst the upper or opposed face of said section. The latter isprovided with a recess 18 in the path of the stud, and the parts are soconstructed relatively to each other that when the slide-bar is moved inone direction the stud 17 registers with the recess in the pivotedsection and permits the section to assume its raised or normal position,and that when the bar is moved in the opposite direction the stud slidesupon the upper surface of said section and forces the latter toward theneedle-bed. Hence the knitting-cams are thrown out of or into action, asdesired. The stud and the recess are beveled or inclined on their ends,so that the former will freely coact with the recess when the bar isoperated. The requisite movements of the bar are effected by the usualend stops 19 and 20, one, 19, of which is fixed, while the other, 20, ismovable into and out of the path of the bar at predetermined intervals.The position of the movable stop is controlled by the patternchain 21 inthe ordinary manner.

The knitting-cams are mounted upon the slide-plate, instead of directlyupon the section 11, to the end that the said cams may be moved slightlyupward 011 the needle bed at the outstart of the operation to effect theknitting of a course of comparatively close stitches, this position ofthe cams relative to the needles corresponding with that termed theintermediate position in my previous patents above referred to.

A simple and efficient means whereby the adjustment of the plate may behad is represented in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, as follows: 22is a spiral spring fitted to asocket in the edge of the pivoted sectionimmediately beneath the proximate edge of the slide-plate to bearforcibly against said plate and tend to raise the same. Coacting withthe upper edge of the plate, to depress the plate against or to permitit to be raised by the force of the spring, is a longitudinal slide-bar23, that is fitted to guides in the ends of the arms 12 of the section.The edge of the plate is pro vided with a step 24, while the opposededge of the bar is provided with a projection 25, which may be slid uponor off said step by the act of reciprocating the bar, thereby depressingthe plate or permitting its elevation, as above stated. The movements ofthe bar are effected by its impact at predetermined times with the endstops 19 20.

Secured to the top of the plate is an up wardly-extending arm 26, on theunder side of the free end of which is the sinker-actuating cam 27.During the traverse of the camcarrier on its needle-bed, while theknittingcams are in their normal active position, this cam actuates thesinkers in time with the reciprocating needles in that bed, and whilethe knitting-cams are in the slightly-elevated active position thesinker-cam does not re tract the sinkers suiliciently to cause them tointerfere with the opposed needles on the other bed.

hen the knitting-cams have been moved outwardly from action with theneedles, the sinker-cam is correspondingly removed from the sinkers, andin consequence the sinker-cam and the knitting-cams of each carrier aremoved into and out of action simultaneously.

The sinkers are marked 1), and they are pivotally supported underspring-pressure in longitudinally disposed bars or frames D, fixed alongthe opposed edges of the needlebeds, respectively, similar to the likeparts shown in my Patent No. 485,317, above referred to.

A number of the needles at and toward the ends of each needle-bed aresupported in jacks 2%, the guide-grooves to which said jacks are fittedbeing inclined from the top to the bottom of the bed, to the end thatthe jacks may be oscillated in a manner to throw the heels of theneedles thereof out of and into the path of the overlying knitting-cams,as hereinafter described.

The jacks each comprise a slotted or bifurcated plate, the lower member29 of which is elongated and is provided at its upper end with aperforated ear 30. The slot or opening in the plate is of sufficientlength to contain the end of the needle during its reciprocations. Theears of the several jacks in each bed are strung upon a rod 31 and thewhole arranged within a longitudinal slot 32 near the upper edge of thebed, the extremities of the rod being fixed in place by means ofsuitably-disposed set-screws 33 bearing thereon. Thus, while the jacksmaybe oscillated independently of each other on the rod, yet uponfreeing the ends of the latter the rod with the entire series of jacksthereon may be removed bodily from the needle bed. (See Figs. 3 and (3.)The lower ends of the jacks project beyond the needle-bed, and they areadapted to be operated in a manner below explained. In this instance thenumber of jacks in the machine is determined by the number of stitchesrequired in each course of the wide and narrow portions of the leg ofthe stocking to be produced, the number of jacks being equal to thedifference bet-ween the stitches required in the courses of the twoportions plus the number of courses to be fashioned in the formation ofthe toe or the heel part of the stocking.

The jacks first named are marked 00, and they are arranged in equalnumbers at each end of each bed, and the remaining jacks are marked y,and they are applied to the intermediate needles in the bed 2 only, asshown. At the beginning of the knitting operation all the jacks marked.1- are depressed to throw their needles out of action. The knittingcamsare then thrown into the active position, and they are moved one stroketo throw upward simultaneously the remaining needles in both beds. Yarnbeing delivered to the needles, the cams in the reverse stroke retractthe needles with the yarn. The cams are then moved to the tube-knittingpositions (one set active and the other idle) and a round of stitches isformed. One set of cams is then maintained out of action, and theknitting to and fro is carried on by the other or active set 011 the bed2, the needles at the respective ends thereof being alternately thrownout of action by the act of depressing their supporting-jacksrespectively, so as to produce a gradually-narrowed web the desiredlength of the toe-pouch, whereupon the said needles are returned toaction in inverse order by the upward movement of the jacks. There isthus formed a toe-pouch. Both sets of cams are then thrown into thetube-knitting positions, and the formation of the foot is effected. Theheel-pouch is then formed similarly to the toe, following which thelower portion of the leg is formed similarly to the foot. The jacksmarked a: are then raised to throw their needles into action, afterwhich the remainder of the leg is formed in the usual manner by means ofall the needles in both beds. This being completed, the web is cast offfrom the needles as usual and the foregoing-described operation isrepeated.

If all the jacks marked :0 be thrown into IIO action before the actualknitting operation is continued, there will be formed in the resultantweb in each side of the leg, at the parts where the end needles werethrown into action, an open projecting portion, which portion, when theweb is removed from the machine, is cut off diagonally with the lateraledge of the leg portion, and the gap or slit is sewed or otherwiseclosed. If, however, during the operation of returning the jacks so toaction the yarn be delivered to the needles at predetermined courses,the web will be gradually widened, thereby obviating the necessity oftrimming the sides of the web, which would otherwise project. Byreturning the successive jacks at the end of each second, third, fourth,or other course the lateral lines of widening may be more or lessextended, as desired.

The mechanism for throwing the jack-needles out of and into action atproper periods is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and it is of thefollowing construction, to wit: Mounted in and between the end heads ofthe supportingframe is a shaft 8i, one end of which is extendedoutwardly beyond the adjacent head and is equipped with a bevel-gear 35.This wheel en gages two similar wheels 30 37,1oosely mounted on thevertical shaft 8, which wheels may be alternately fixed to and releasedfrom the shaft by means of an interposed clutch 38, that is connectedwith one end of a longitudinal shaft 39, under the control of thepattern-chain. The shaft 30 has on its opposite end a depending arm 40,that bears upon the upper end of a lever 41, that rests upon the linksof the pattern-chain, being held thereon by the action of asuitably-disposed spring l2. Thus when the arm rides upon a lowfacedlink of the chain the clutch is engaged with the upper bevel-gear 36,which latter thereupon rotates the shaft in one direction. hen the armrides upon a high-faced link, the clutch is disengaged from the upperwheel and engaged with the lower wheel 37, which latter thereuponrotates the shaft in a reverse direction, and when the arm rides upon amedium-faced link the clutch is thrown to its original or intermediateposition, in which case it is out of engagement with both wheels and theshaft is at rest. On the shaft 3% are two oppositely-pitched screws 43,which are movable longitudinally, the shaft being provided with a splineto prevent their rotating independently of the shaft. These screws workin internally-threaded nuts or bosses at, fixed to the inner faces ofthe end heads, the construction being such that when the shaft isproperly rotated the nuts or bosses will effeet the movement of thescrews toward or away from each other.

Fixed in and between the end heads in proximity to and parallel with theshaft 3% is a shaft l5, on which are mounted a couple ofvertically-disposed followers 46, that are provided on their outer faceswith flanges 66, respectively. These flanges extend into circumferentialgrooves on the headed ends of the screws, whereby when said screws aremoved longitudinally the followers will be correspondingly impelled.

Thus far the construction and arrangement of the described parts of thejack-operating mechanism are substantially the same as the like parts ofthe needle-picking mechanism shown and described in my aforesaid LettersPatent No. 485,317.

The followers, instead of being arranged beneath only one of the beds,are arranged directlybelow the central line of the machine, as shown.Extending from the lateral edges of each of the followers to and beyondthe outer edges of the needle-beds are arms 68 68, respectively, on eachof which is formed or secured a support 69, that lies normally beneaththe projecting ends of the needle-jacks and sustains them in the raisedor active position. The supports adjacent to bed 2 are sufficiently longto extend under and sustain the jacks y as well as the jacks m.

The supports are so constructed and arranged that during the inwardtraverse of the followers they are disengaged from the jackssuccessively, so as to free the latter and permit the jacks to drop orto be depressed in their needle-grooves, and that during the outwardtraverse of the followers said supports return beneath and sustain thejacks as the latter are raised to their active position by means ofdevices which I shall now describe as follows: Arranged on the innerface of each follower, so as to be vertically movable thereon, is aplate 70, from the respective sides of which extend arms 71. The outerends of these arms extendbeyond the needlebeds, respectively, and theyare provided with upwardly-projecting portions 72, that are recessed orbifurcated on their inner edges to ceive the projecting ends of thejacks, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The plates depend below andagainst the end heads of the screws, respectively, being provided withelongated openings 73, to which are fitted eccentrics 7st on the ends ofthe adjacent screw-heads, respectively, whereby when the shaft 3i andthe screws are rotated the eccentrics will vertically reciprocate theplates 70 and, perforce, the outwardly-extending arms 71. The thicknessof each of the recessed portions of the arms corresponds with that of ajack, to the end that such portions may be engaged with the jacksindividuallythat is to say, as the plates are reeiprocated horizontallyin their inward traverse the upper shoulders of the recesses willimpinge against the opposed ends of the jacks successively (which havebeen freed from their supports, as above stated) andpositively depressthem to throw the needles out of action, and as they, said plates, aresimilarly actuatedin their outward traverse the lower shoulders of therecesses will take against the ends of the jacks and return the same,with their needles, to the raised or active position, wherein they willbe sustained by the passage thereunder of the supports 69,11ereinbeforedescribed.

The pitch of the screw-threads and the position and throw of theeccentrics are so timed that during the inward traverse of the platesthe downward strokes occur when the recessed portions thereof are in thepaths of the respective jacks, and the upward strokes take place whensaid portions are in line with the spaces between the jacks, and thatduring the outward traverse of the followers a reverse action of theplates is effected. As the inner jacks m are the first ones raised intoaction in widening above the ankle, the adjacent ends of the supportsare so disposed that they pass under the jacks immediately before theportions 7 2 have passed to the succeeding spaces.

It will be understood that at the completion of a stocking the supportsoccupy their outer position beneath jacks 00 as well as y, and that inorder to let jacks 00 drop out of action before the toe of a succeedingstocking is begun the supports must be run inwardly be yond said latterjacks, such initial operation being effected by properly turning theshaft 3i through the medium of the eoacting pattern and gear devicesabove described.

The yarnguide mechanism is of the following description: Supportedbetween the end heads of the main frame, so as to extend lengthwise ofand above the throat of the machine, is a pair of parallel bars Tl 7;.on which are mounted the yarn-carriers 76, respectively, that areadapted, as hereinafter described, to be reciprocated from end to end ofthe machine. Fitted to a suitably-disposed vertical recess or channel ineach carrier, adjacent to the inner face of the latter, is a dependingrod 77, on the lower end of which the yarn guide head 78 is supporteddirectly above the median line of the machine. The rod on the carrier 75is reeiprocative vertically, while that on the other carrier is fixed inplace by means of a suitably-disposed setserew 79. The bar upon whichcarrier 75 is mounted is provided on its inner face throughout itslength with a groove 80, which extends parallel with the edge of thebar, excepting at one end, where it is inclined upward, as at 81.Engaged with this groove is a pin or roller 82 on the side of theadjacent rod 77, which pin or roller, following the course of the grooveduring the traverse of the carrier, is directed upward by the inclinedportion of the groove in a manner to elevate the rod '77 and itsattached guide-head. The latter is raised and maintained above the trackof the other or fixed guide-head, so that these heads will not interferewith each other, it being understood that one of the carriers is idle atthis end of the machine, while the other is active, the carriers beingthrown into and out of operation at predetermined intervals.

Each carrier is provided with two upwardlyprojecting studs 83 Set,similarly to the carriers illustrated in my Patent No. 485, 317, be-

fore referred to. The mechanism for reciproeating the carriers is amodification of that described in said patent. It comprises a dependingarm 85, pivoted to the yoke centrally of the latter, and adapted to bemoved toward or between either of the bars when the two carriers are atthe front end of the machine that is, the end where one of theyarn-guide heads is elevated. Hence the arm may be moved between thestuds 83 84: on either carrier, and in consequence, during the followingstroke of the cam-carriage, the arm, bearing against the opposed stud Slon the car rier, will impel the latter in concert with theknitting-cams. lVhcn the arm 85 is in the central position, neithercarrier will be engaged thereby.

The stud 83 is made somewhat higher than the other, 84:, for the samepurpose as in my previous construction-that is, so that the top of theyoke will abut against the stud 83 in the reverse stroke.

Arm 85 is connected by means of a link so with one end of a horizontallever 87 pivoted on the yoke, the other or free end of the lever havingan arrow or V shaped head 88, which as it approaches the front end ofthe machine enters a slot 89 in a horizontally-arranged plate 90, and byits impact with either end of the slot the lever is moved from one sideto the other, as the case maybe, in a manner to impart the requisitemovement to the arm 85 to engage it.with or disengage it from thecarriers, as above described.

lVhen the lever 87 has been moved to the proper position, the plate isshifted so as to present the opening directly to the arrow-head of thelever and permit its entrance into the same without lateral impact,thereby permitting the position of the lever to remain unchanged for apredetermined period.

The slotted plate is supported on the upper arm of a vertical lever 01pivoted on a stud 92 on the adjacent end head of the main frame, thelower arm of the leverbeing provided with a foot 93 that rests upon thepattern-chain. The foot is held yieldingly upon the chain by means of asuitably-arranged spring 91L, that the form of the chain-links willdetermine the position of the plate relatively to the path of thehorizontal lever similarly to the corre sponding parts of the machinedescribed in my patent above mentioned.

I claim 1. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needle-bed andits needles, knittingcams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of thesections supporting the knitting-cams and being pivotally connected atits lower portion with the other section, a spring device to throw saidcan1-supporting section normally outward, and a longitudinal slidebarinterposed between said sections above their pivotal conneetions andhaving provisions whereby said cam-supporting section is held inoperative position against the action of said spring device,substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needle-bed, and itsneedles, the knitting-cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of thesections supporting the knitting-cams and being bodily movable towardand away from the needle-bed, longitudinal guide devices for thecarriage, a sinker-cam means whereby it is connected with said movablesection, provisions whereby said section is 0perated to throw its camsinto and out of action, together with the sinkers and their sup portingparts, substantially as described.

In a knittingmachine, the combination of the needle-bed and its needles,knittingcams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sectionssupporting the knitting-cams and bein g pivotally connected with theother section, an arm extending from said pivoted section, a sinker-camon said arm, and provisions whereby the pivoted camsnpporting section isoperated to throw the cams into and out of action, together with thesinkers and their supporting parts, substantially as described.

i. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needle-bed and itsneedles, a sectional cam-carriage, one section thereof being movabletoward and from the needle-bed, a transversely-reciprocative plate onsaid movable section carrying the knitting-cams, provisions forreciprocating said plate, and provisions whereby the movable section isoperated to throw said cams into and out of action, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needle-bed and itsneedles, a sectional cam-carriage, one section thereof being movabletoward and from the needle-bed, a transversely-reciprocative plate onsaid movable section carrying the knitting-cams, a slidebar, provisionswhereby it is operatively connected with said section, a spring actingon said plate against the operation of the bar, a slide-bar havingprovisions whereby it is operatively engaged with the movable section,and a spring acting upon said section against the operation of the barlast named, substantially as described.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needle-bed and itsneedles, a sectional cam-carriage, one section thereof being movabletoward and from the needle-bed, a transversely-reci iirocative plate onsaid movable section carrying the knittin g-cams, provisions forreeiprocatin g said plate, provisions whereby the movable section isoperated to throw said cams into and out of action, an arm connectedwith said plate, a sinker-cam thereon, the sinkers and their supportingparts, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the needle-beds, the jacks therein, and theneedles, of afollower, a reciprocative plate thereon having provisionsto act upon the individual jacks of the respective beds, means wherebysaid follower and plate are impelled, and means whereby said plate isreciprocated during its traverse, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the needle-bed, the jacks therein, and theneedles, of the follower, the vertically-movable plate thereon, the armextending from said plate and having provisions to act upon said jacks,means whereby said follower and plate are intermittently impelled, andmeans whereby the plate is reciprocated during its traverse,substantially as described.

9. The combination of the supporting-frame, a shaft, a follower thereon,a vertically-movable plate having provisions for effecting the actionand inaction of the needles, screw devices to impel said follower andplate, and an eccentric for reciprocating said plate, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination, with the needle-bed, the jacks therein and theneedles, of the follower, an arm extending therefrom provided with ajack-support, a reciprocative plate on said follower, an arm extendingfrom said plate with provisions to act upon the jacks, means wherebysaid follower and plate are impelled, and means wherebysaid plate isreciprocated during its traverse, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the needle-beds, the jacks therein, and theneedles, of the follower, arms extending therefrom beyond theneedle-beds and provided with jack-supports, respectively, areciprocative plate on said follower, arms extending from said platewith provisions to act upon the jacks of the respective beds, meanswhereby said follower and plate are impelled, and means whereby saidplate is reciprocated during its traverse, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the needle-beds, the jacks, and the needles,of the fixed nut or boss, the shaft, the traveling screw thereon engagedwith said nut or boss, the follower supported in proximity to saidscrew, and provisions whereby it is connected therewith, thereciprocative jack-operating plate on said follower, and provisionswhereby said plate is reciprocated during its traverse, substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination of the reciprocative carrier, the supporting-bartherefor provided with a longitudinal groove 80,81 therein, avertically-reciprocative rod in said carrier, and a pin or roller onsaid rod engaging said groove, substantially as described.

It. The combination, with the needle-beds, the needles, and theknitting-cams, of the reciprocative carriers mounted above the needlesin the respective beds, the longitudinal guide devices for saidcarriers,the yarn-guides connected with the latter so as normally to bein line with each other longitudinally, and means adapted to raise oneof said yarn-guides above the path of the other at predeterminedintervals, together with lon gitudinally-recip- ICC oted arm While theother or free end is V- shaped, the slotted bar extending into the pathof said latter end, a vertical lever supporting said bar, and thepattern mechanism adapted to operate said vertical lever, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH BENNOR. Vitnesses J. D. MOKAY, O. M. GATES.

